Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

Chaplin , SS ; J . C . Laxton , 2107 and 2727 ; and O . Papworth , Prov . G . Sec ) . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . The banquet was held at the Lion Hotel , and was attended by about 40

brethren . The Prov . Grand Master presided , and was supported by the Deputy P . G . M . Bro . John Vail took the S . W . chair ( in the unavoidable absence of Bro . W . G . Bell ) , and Bro . Joshua Taylor was in his place as J . W . Dinner ended ,

The PROV . GRAND MASTER gave the toast of "The King and the Craft . " For the first time in the memory of any member of thfe . Provincial Grand Lodge , there was a change in the form of this toast since their last meeting . Her Majesty Queen Victoria had been taken from us , and our late Grand Master had become King of these realms . For the first time , therefore , he gave them " The King and the Craft . " They knew the great interest his Majesty took in the Craft whilst Grand Master , and the speaker was sure that now he had become Protector of the Order his interest would

not be diminished . The PROV . GRAND MASTER next gave " The Health of the M . W . the Grand Master of England . " The Duke of Connaught had only recently been installed , and they trusted he would preside over the fortunes of the Order as long as his Majesty the King had been pleased to do . The Duke of Connaught took a keen interest in the Order , and they wished him long life and every energy to preside over the future of Masonpy .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER then gave the toast of " The G . Officers of England , " and said that those who were present at the recent installation of the Duke of Connaught must have been convinced of the great amount of pains which had been taken in the ordering of the arrangements and in the working of the ceremonial on that occasion . It reflected great credit on all who shared in the work . He was especially struck with the excellent

address given by Earl Amherst ; it was a happy speech ; it touched the right chord , and was received with happy inspiration by the brethren assembled in that enormous building . There were no present G . Officers with them that night , but they had with them of the Past Grand Officers a right trusty ar . d will-beloved brother of their own , V . W . Bro . Rev . J . H . Gray , and lhat name he associated with the toast .

Bro . the Rev . J . H . GRAY , P . G . Chap ., said he was proud to respond for the Officers of Grand Lodge , and he should once more allude to the installation of their present Grand Master . Those of them who were present would never forget it . It made an impression in two ways . When

the enormous number of Masons filed into the building , one could realise what Grand Lodge meant ; and when they heard of the progress which the Craft had made during the late Grand Master ' s reign they realised what the Grand Ledge had done for the Craft . If a body had done its work , as it had done , he was I appy and proud to belong to it .

The DEI-. PROV . G . MASTER gave the next toast—that of " The R . W . Provincial Grand Matter . " To propose it was his happy privilege , and one with which he should be very sorry to part . Happily , their Prov . Grand Master needed no words of eulogy from him , more especially in his presence . But in two words , so to speak , he could give two very good reasons why they would drink his health with great cordiality . First , they felt that in Colonel Caldwell they had the right man to rule over them ;

they could not possibly have one wiser or kinder . Secondly , the Craft was prospering under his rule . There was a boast existing in this province , and he would repeat it . That boast was that they were a most happy and united province . There was no man in the province who was not fair enough to acknowledge that a great part of that happiness and that unity was due to their Prov . G . Master . They only desired one thing of him , namely , that he would continue to rule over them as long as possible .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in responding to the toast so eloquently proposed by the D . P . G . M ., said he thanked them all very much for the way in which they had received it . He spoke from his heart when he said how deeply he loved his Province of Cambridgeshiie . There was no province in England with which he would change , or Provincial Grand Master with whom he would change places . And he rejoiced that at the

installation of the Duke of Connaught the Province of Cambridgeshire was one of those called upjn to escort the Grand Master into the meeting of Grand Lodge . He congratulated the brethren who had assembled that day from all parts of the province . Every lodge was well and worthily represented . They had worked well during the past year , and he thanksd Bro . Treasurer for the improvement that had taken place in the finances .

It was also to be noticed that their numbers had increased . Still , he Inped , that before the year of the present Registrar expired , there would bs a luriher increase , and he also hoped that the number of lodges would be increased . The two places he had his eye upon were Chatteris and Marchpoints admirably adapted for new lodges . Nor did he think that a lodge at March would adversely affect the locLe at Wisbech , but that both would

profit . Doubts at first existed about their 1 nest lodge at Ely , but they knew now how well that lodge had prospered . They had a good and hard working lodge at Ely . Year by year it brought in brethren who but for lhat lodge would never have seen the light . He hoped before long , therefore , thty would have an increase in the direction of March and Cnatteris . Then he might alio speak of their devotion to the cause of Charity .

Mention had alrtady been made in lodge of those who had served as Charity Stewards , and he was very sorry that the jewel to be presented to a brother of Etheldreda Lodge was not there lor presentation . The brother was well entitled to it , and he should have it . Theiewere good energetic workers in all the lodges , and Freemasonry went on flouiishing in the province . The appointments to Provincial Giand rank involved a gicat amount of care and consideration . The brethren who

had been so appointed would , he was sure , fulfil their duties , and through their vvoik the province would continue to prosper . He was also confident that they would nceive the generous aid of all ihe brethren . As Bro . Gray had already its-ponded to another toa ^ t , he shoull couple with this toast lbe names 0 / Bro . J . Taylor , S . VV ., who had for a long lime done good work in the province , and Bro . Crookham , P . G . Ch . iplain , w . io w . is connected with the lodge f-t Ely .

Bro . J . TAYLOR said he had been a Mason for a great many years , but he never expeutd to be called upon to undertake his present position , and he would rather that ihe duty ol responding should have fallen upon the Deputy Prov . Grand Master or the Senior Warden . However , he could give this assurance that so far as he was concerned he should e-ndeavjitr to do his duly , and there could be no doubt thtt the other officers wjult do so also .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

Bro . Rev . W . T . R . CROOKHAM , P . G . Chap ., said he knew very little of Masonry at present , although he was in love with it . He was pleased to hear the kindly reference made to their lodge at Ely by the Prov . Grand Master , because they did try to do their duty . Still , as they were mere babes in Freemasonry , not much would be expected of them yet . He felt

deeply impressed with the honour conferred upon him . Freemasonry would always have a warm corner in his heart . He wished more of his professional brethren were Masons . The clergy might join the Order with great advantage to themselves , and a great deal of good would be done to the community .

Bro . W . P . SPALDING submitted the toast of " The Masonic Charities in a very sympathetic speech , and spoke of the excellent work done in the Girls' and Boys' Schools , to th-2 honour of the staff of each Institution and to the honour of the Craft , whilst as to the Old People , nothing could be nobler than to give a helping hand to those who had seen better times .

Bro . OLIVER PAPWORTH , in responding , said he agreed with the proposer that much was to be said for the charity which knew no evil of a brother . He also thought with Bro . Crookham that if the clergy did . come into Freemasonry it would be for the benefit of those with whom they came in contact , alike in Freemasonry and in their various parishes . They would get wider views of mankind , and would be enabled to do an immense lot of

good . With regard to the money for the Girls and Boys' Schools , it was marvellous where it came from . Whatever sum was wanted was forthcoming . The Old People had held their Jubilee , but if there could be some special function whereby special efforts could be made to collect a sum approaching to that collected for the Boys' Centenary Festival , then they

would be enabled to elect 30 or 40 more of the deserving candidates on the list . Bro . Papworth mentioned that the Boys' School would probably be ready for the reception of the boys after the midsummer holidays . As a member of the Board of Management , it would be his earnest endeavour to discharge his duties as their representative , as well as in connection with the Masonic Charity Association of the province .

The DEP . PROV . G . MASTER gave a welcome to " The Visitors . " They were disappointed by the absence of Bro . Hamon Le Strange , Prov . G . M . of Norfolk . They were glad to have with them brethrjn from New Zealand and South Africa .

Bro . S . W . HEATOH , 45 , responded , and said that although but a young Mason , he was struck with the business manner in which the proceedings of Prov . G . Lodge were conducted . He was pleased to know that , one of their officers , Bro . Wm . Briggs , who initiated him , had done a great deal for Freemasonry .

The PROV . G . MASTER proposed " The W . M , Wardens , and brethren of the Alma Mater Lodge , " and thanked them for their good arrangements . This lodge , of which he was one of the founders , used to be held at Bletchlev , midway between Oxford and Cambridge ; but now it had been entirely removed to Cambridge , and was this year presided over by that popular , energetic , and charitable Mison , Bro . William Briggs . Bro . W . BRIGGS said it was a proud honour for the brethren of Alma Mater to know that this was the first time Prov . G . Lodge had been held

under their banner . It was a sort of compound of some of the . other lodges , with No . 859 as the principal nursery . But in their way they believed they could do good work for Freemasonry , and help to carry its principles into everyday life . The Tyler ' s toast concluded the list . There were several pleasing contributions of harmony during the evening .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF ESSEX .

The annual meeting was I eld in the Crane Court Assembly Rooms , at Chelmsford , on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., excellent arrangements for ihe occasion having been made by the Principals and companions of the Essex Chapter , No . 276 . His Honour Judge Pnilbrick , K . C ., G . Supt ., presided , and he was supported

by—Comps . Vero W . Taylor , P . Z ., P . P . G . H ., as Prov . G . H . ; E . H . Baily , P < ov . O . J . ; Thos . J . Rall'ii" Prov . G . S . E . ; John B . Bromley , Prov . G . P . S . ; Robt . Cook , Prov . A . G . S . ; A . Durr . int , Prov . G . Treas .,- Rev . Saint Clair HilJ , Prov . G . Reg . ; F . England , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; A . Lucking , P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . D . of C . ; W . II . Cummings , Mus . Doc , Prov . G . Org . ; A . W . Martin , Prov . G . Janitor ; Rev . Canon Quennell , P . P . G . H . ; Andrew C . Durrant , P . P . G . H . ; J . J . C . Turner , P . P . G . J . ; C . ] . R . Tijou , P . A . G . D . C . ; Dr . Gayton , P . P . G . Reg . j

Harris Hills , P . P . G . | . ; George Corbie , P . P . G . H . ; J . P . Lewin , P . P . G . S . N . ; J . S . Hammond , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Spencer , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . J . D . Cramphorn , P . P . A . G . S . ; | . P . Green , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; A . J . H . Ward , P . P . G . S . N . ; C . Williams , M . E . Z . 276 ; G . W . Pascall , P . P . A . G . D . C ; T . Courtenav Warner , M . P ., P . Z . 2256 : J . F . Marlar , P . / .. 2154 ; Mark Gentry , P . Z . 2154 ; J . . P Sayer , M . E . Z . 1024 ; S . A . Mugford , H . 276 ; G . H . Nichols , J . 276 ; H . N . Crozier , P . S . 276 ; F . Spalding , A . S . 276 : and others .

The minutes of . he last annual Prov . Grand Chapter ( held at Colchester ) having been read and confirmed , letters and telegrams were read from several companions unavoidably prevtnted from attending . These included Comps . the Rtv . J . Holme . Pilkington , G . Supt . Suffolk ; H . J . Spirks , G . Supt . Norfolk ; Millner Jutsum , P . P . G . H . ; Capt . Giles , P . P . G . J . ; G . C . Cowell , P . G . S . N . ; W . Shurmur , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Gower , P . P . G . R . ; R . Haward Ives , P . P . G . S . N . ; VV . H . Roscoe , Prov . A . G . Soj . ; W . J . Barnes , P . P . G . S . B . ; and others .

The roll of chapters was then called by the Prov . G . S . E ., and all but one of the 14 chapters forming the province were found to be fully represented .

1 he Report of the Board of General Purposes was presented by Comp . J J . C . TURNER , P . P . G . J ., who also moved its adoption . It stated that the roll of chapters in the province had been increased to 14 by the consecration , on April 23 rd , of a chapter to be attached to the St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 1817 , Shoeburyness . There had been during the year 29 exaltations and 23 joining members , against whic h the resignations had been 17 , the deaths six , and exclusions 17 , leaving the total membership of the province at the close of the year . 6 9 , against 357 last year .

The motion for the adoption of the Report having been duly seconded , it was carried unanimously . The next business was the election of three members lo serve on the Board of General Purposes for the ensuing year , and as only the required number had been nominated , the G . SUPERINTENDENT declared them to be elected as follows : Comps . John J . C . Turner , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . J . ; W . K ,